Scalloped Tire
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 805
Likes: 0
From: Newport Coast, CA USA
Scalloped Tire
I returned from Willow Springs this weekend, after a time trial event, and I noticed that the outside tread of my driver side front tire has developed a scalloped edge. Is this a result of track related wear, or could I have avoided this by adjusting air pressure. I have new Michelin Pilots and the scalloping is not so bad that it causes a vibration; however, I would like to avoid this in the future. Any help is appreciated. By the way, I posted a 1:38.6, a personal best, for my bone stock C5. Placed first overall and still have a big smile.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 1,557
From: Poway CA
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Re: Scalloped Tire ('98 Six Speed)
I'm not a suspension expert, but I play one on T.V. :D
This happened on my Suburban.. The culprit was bad shocks. Interesting, though, that even after replacing the shocks, the scallop pattern continued to worsen. I rotated the tires to the back, and eventually they wore away.
Obviously not an option on the C5...
You should cross-post this to the racing section. Lots of experienced guys hang there!
This happened on my Suburban.. The culprit was bad shocks. Interesting, though, that even after replacing the shocks, the scallop pattern continued to worsen. I rotated the tires to the back, and eventually they wore away.
Obviously not an option on the C5...
You should cross-post this to the racing section. Lots of experienced guys hang there!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,269
Likes: 1
From: Richmond Ca
Re: Scalloped Tire (SDVette)
It's called cupping. It can happen for the reasons mentioned above. Or, it can be a natural occurance of extra wide tires, lot's of sharp turns and less than optimum tire pressure.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Newland US
Re: Scalloped Tire (THENAKEDi)
THENAKEDi,
I had the same problem in a new Z-28. I traced the culprit to low tire pressure. The second set of tires (same as the OEMs) I maintained at about 3-4 lbs over the recommended 30 lbs. and never had a problem....got 77K smooth trouble free miles out of them. I run my Vette for everyday driving at 33-34 lbs. cold pressure. Some will say it's too high...if I get signs of center tread wear, I'll back of a pound or two.
Good luck.
Mark
I had the same problem in a new Z-28. I traced the culprit to low tire pressure. The second set of tires (same as the OEMs) I maintained at about 3-4 lbs over the recommended 30 lbs. and never had a problem....got 77K smooth trouble free miles out of them. I run my Vette for everyday driving at 33-34 lbs. cold pressure. Some will say it's too high...if I get signs of center tread wear, I'll back of a pound or two.
Good luck.
Mark
Pro
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 672
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale AZ
Re: Scalloped Tire (MDT)
In general it is due to a misalignment, front or rear.
The only way we stopped it was to fully realign the four wheels and then have the front tires dismounted and remounted on the opposite side of the car.
We got 16K miles from two different sets of Goodyear's. :mad
The only way we stopped it was to fully realign the four wheels and then have the front tires dismounted and remounted on the opposite side of the car.
We got 16K miles from two different sets of Goodyear's. :mad
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 261
Likes: 1
From: Madison, AL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Scalloped Tire (THENAKEDi)
If you're running street tires on the track, they can get very hot and cause the deeper tread to cup on the outer edge if you're pushing it hard in the turns. Either go easier in the turns or do what I did and get a dedicated set of track wheels and tires (DOT R compound) for the track.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 39
Re: Scalloped Tire (NetSpace)
You put street tires in a very non street situation and they will cause extreme wear situations. Even when I run my track tires on a banked oval I will get adverse wear on the right front and rear.
You can wax a set of new tires autox'ing. If your street tires were 9/32's to 5/32's tread depth on a road course with tight corners or high speed corners then your high tread will get tortured.
You can wax a set of new tires autox'ing. If your street tires were 9/32's to 5/32's tread depth on a road course with tight corners or high speed corners then your high tread will get tortured.
